Ask Shelly Myers if after 25 years she ever thought she would go back to school, and she won’t hesitate to explain why she did it. “Enrolling in the instrument technician/sterile processing technician program not only provided me the skills to gain immediate employment, but also provided me a valuable educational foundation toward the surgical technology program,” said Myers. Within just three months, she completed the certification program taught at Adult and Continuing Education (ACE) at North Central Texas College and by May had successfully passed the exam to become a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST).
ACE offers the three-month instrument technician/sterile processing technician certification program to teach students how to safeguard patients from infection and disease controls and procedures to produce a sterile clinical and operatory environment. “There were several things I liked about the program,” Myers said, “including our instructor, Mrs. Bratton. The instructors really want the students to succeed and achieve their goals. Mrs. Bratton worked very hard to make sure her students were well prepared to sit for the CRCST exam. I enjoyed the hands-on practice in the classroom and the externship opportunity. I felt well prepared to accept a job and set my sights on the next step toward my goals.”
For Myers, getting her certification in instrument/sterile processing tech led to an exciting externship at HCA Medical City and to a full-time job opportunity within three months of completing the program. “On August 7, 2017 I began working for The Heart Hospital Baylor Denton in their sterile processing department,” she said. They are very supportive of my goals to advance my career and education to becoming a surgical technologist.”
And for others like Myers who are seeking a new career, certification programs that take just a few months to complete may be just the answer to achieving both short- and long-term career goals. According to NCTC Surgical Technology Division Chair Judith Rodgers, “It is a good start in healthcare for some people and a great career for others.”
Earning a certificate as an instrument/sterile processing technician can be a great springboard to a career as a surgical technologist. With a median salary of $45,160, the employment outlook for surgical techs is expected to grow by 12 percent in the next eight years, faster than the average for other occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “The job can be exciting,” said Rodgers. “It is interesting and there is always something new. And hospitals will often pay tuition reimbursement for more education.”
The experience and knowledge gained through NCTC’s surgical technology program propels candidates to the front of the line in many instances. And, in addition to rewarding careers in the OR, people who complete the surgical tech program often find their education and experience will open doors to careers in other healthcare-related fields, such as equipment sales, education, doctors’ and veterinarians’ offices.
Myers was accepted to NCTC’s surgical technology program in August of 2017 with an estimated completion date of August this year. Regarding her decision to work in the healthcare field and what advice she has for someone considering a career in the healthcare industry, Myers said, “If you’re considering a career in healthcare, it involves being a servant to others. A career in the healthcare industry means being a part of something bigger than yourself and giving back. It means being a part of a team and giving your very best every day. While it is hard work and can mean long hours, you leave at the end of the day knowing you made a difference in someone’s life.”